Marouane Fellaini - 2008/09

This Is Why I Chose Everton

Moysey is chuffed with another brilliant performance from Mar playing in a partership up front with Tim. He is really settling in with the boys now and Mar now believes coming to Everton was the right choice.

On a bad note his hair is growing faster the the amount of bookings he's getting. He got his ninth caution of the season yesterday.

Moyesy says: "The boys are doing unbelievably with no strikers and with Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini working together sometimes up front and sometimes in the middle. They really caused a lot of problems today.

The Fell says: "Things are starting to go in our favour and, match by match, it seems as if we are playing a little bit better. We are creating lots of chances and we are passing the ball well. That has helped us get one or two good results. We are working hard in training and on the pitch as well.

"We are seeing the fruits of that now. The last few months have shown why I chose to come to Everton. We are playing at the levels of last season." (27/12/08)

Get Your Barnet Cut

It looks like Screech's yellow cards this season have not been down to mistimed or malicious tackles, but according to Assistant Boss Steve Round, because Screech is seven foot two and has hair like Boris Johnson. In seriousness Maro is at last settling into the Blues set up and showing why the Boss laid out £15m big ones on him, but his team mates will continue to give him stick until he gets rid of his top heavy barnet.

Steve Round says: "He's disappointed with how many bookings he's had. He's put that down to inexperience, but we've also put that down to the fact he's quite recognisable. I think the referees need to maybe take a look at him and book him on merit rather than because it's ‘big’ Fellaini.

There was a recent game when one particular player from the opposition team had six consecutive fouls and didn't get booked. Fellaini made one foul and got booked. It was pointed out to the officials and they've taken that on board, and hopefully we'll start seeing him getting fair treatment. It’s not a big issue at the minute, we just need to be careful.

It's great, isn't it? (Screech's barnet). The lads give him some stick about it and I've seen the fans wearing Fellaini wigs, which is fantastic really. He takes it all in good spirit, he likes it, he's going to keep it and keep everyone entertained." (20/12/08)

Big Influence

The manager of The People's Club was full of praise for Maro after his performance against Man City.

Moyesy says: "Fellaini was a big influence. I think they found him difficult to deal with. He showed composure on the ball and was a threat physically. He looks as though he has a goal in him. He can go box to box and is doing really well." (15/12/08)

The Team Comes First

Everton's record signing thinks the team has enough about it to bounce back to win at Man City after the defeat against Villa. Although he's pleased to be playing well himself, it's all about the team.

Maro says: "It's all about winning together and losing together. Times are tough in terms of injuries but again it's about working hard together and trying to move forward. We've got to lift our heads up, fight hard for the next game and be ready. We've proved ourselves against good teams in the past. We'll see next week. We'll certainly go there with the aim of getting a good result." (09/12/08)

Screech Is Struggling

Maro Fellaini sat out the midweek International and he is facing a race against the clock to be fit for Monday nights live match against the Pie Eaters. The Belgian hairball felt a slight groin niggle in the match against Boro, and Basil Rathbone thought it wise that he sat out his International duties. Lucky sod, I have not had a niggle on my groin for years, oh sorry I thought you said nibble !!

Basil says: "Fellaini has a very slight groin strain which he felt in the game against Middlesbrough. He then joined up with the Belgium squad but they agreed with our assessment and sent him back. He's now having treatment ahead of the game against Wigan. " (21/11/08)

English Not French

Mikel Arteta insists Maro will improve even more as soon as he's conquered the language barrier.

Mikel says: "Marouane looks happy. He's scored a few goals as well which was important to get confidence and get the fans right behind him. He's a nice guy and I think he's enjoying it here. We try to do the best we can. But sometimes we can't keep speaking French to him because that happened to me when I first went to Glasgow Rangers and you can't improve.

I say to Marouane and Castillo all the time, even if you say it wrong just try to say something. The lads, the fans, the Club - they will appreciate every word you try to say. They're getting better and they're trying." (14/11/08)

Credit For The Goals

Moyesy is chuffed with 3 goals in 4 games by Maro, but wants the rest of the team to start scoring.

Moyesy says: “We should have been the ones helping him. But at the moment he is carrying us along with his goals. So we have to give him a lot of credit for what he is doing just now, his goals are seeing us through. He’s come into a side that hasn’t been playing particularly well and, for a boy, he has done well so three goals is a decent return at this stage of the season for any midfield player. But we want our centre-forwards and people like Tim Cahill, when he comes back into it, to start getting their share of goals as well.” (30/10/08)

Cahill & Fellaini Can Play Together

With Tim Cahill back in the Everton squad for the Bolton game, some so called experts are saying that Maro and Tim can't play together. This is Moyesy's view when asked the question.

Moyesy says: “Definitely, yes. It is a big boost to have Tim back because he is important to us. I don’t think he should have been sent off in the first place. I think Fellaini has done well in the games and scored a couple of goals so I believe he is settling in. Before I signed him I might have said it will be eight or ten games before he is appreciated, perhaps because of his gait and his style.” (29/10/08) Full interview on evertontv

The Future

The Boss had praise for Mar after his goalscoring performance against Manure.

Moyesy says: "Marouane is a 20-year-old lad. He is a young player who, I have no doubt, in the future you will hear an awful lot more about. He has come into a team which, if we're being honest, is struggling at this present moment in time. We're asking him to come in and make that big a difference. But he has been doing well and the player deserves credit."(25/10/08)

Run Thin Boy Run

Moyesy who would love record signing Maro Fellaini to be his new engine of the Everton side, may be in for a shock when the Belgium International, said he will go at his own pace. Maro who netted his first Blue's goal last week is settling in at Goodison thanks to his team mates, and at only twenty years of age there will be plenty of mileage left in his tank for many years to come, or is that lead in his pencil !!

Maro says: "David Moyes wants me to sprint more during the course of matches. I run a lot, but I do it at my own pace. I am just 20 and there are older players whose role is to lift their team-mates. I have never been someone who expresses himself a lot on the pitch - and I haven't become a big talker all of a sudden." (12/10/08)

First Goal

Maro scored his first Everton goal in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle.

Everton's Leading Goalscorers

Moyesy says: “It was a good goal and I was pleased because I think he had an influence in the first half. But we’ve got to remember that he's a 20-year-old boy who has come into a side that hasn't peaked in his performances so far." (06/10/08)

Enthusiastic

Our new signing reveled it was Moyesy's enthusiasm that got him to sign for Everton.

Mar says: You can tell he is a very enthusiastic manager and he gives everything for the Club. I am pleased that he was interested in me and I want to repay the confidence he has shown in me by giving my best for the Club." (13/09/08)

No Panic Buy

Moyesy is reiterating the fact that Big Mar was not a last minute panic buy, and he had been on his radar all Summer. Moyesy had that much faith in the Belgian International that he smashed the Blues transfer record for the fourth Summer going. He is in no doubt that his capture from Standard Liege will not let anyone down.

Moyesy says: "People will say that Fellaini was a last minute thing and he wasn't on the radar and a lot of that is correct. We were after other people; M'bia, we were after two or three people who we couldn't get. But we weren't sitting about doing nothing. We were looking to see who our next targets were. We haven't got a lot of stature in the team. So, our criteria was that we had to get someone who was bigger than what we had.

We have a lot of smaller people in the team, Arteta's, Osman's, Pienaar's, so there were lots of good midfielders about but they didn't meet the criteria. Fellaini was one who we knew could do that and we have watched him. His games against Liverpool were very good and that probably tipped us over. We realised then that instead of having the potential, he was there." (10/09/08)

Can't Wait To Get Going

Everton's record signing Marouane Fellaini is not fazed by his huge fee. The Belgian midfielder is currently away on International duty at the moment, but he cannot wait to get going in a Royal Blue shirt.

Mar says: "The fee is not a problem. I am coming here to continue my progression and improve my game, as well as working hard for the team and helping us win games. All the fee shows is that the club has confidence and faith in me and that is something that should be looked on not as a problem, but as something which is positive. I am very happy and very content to be signing for Everton. I really can't wait to get started at Everton, to show my qualities and what I am about.

I had been aware that Everton had been interested in me and watching my progress for some time, but I didn't know they wanted to sign me at this time. It (the transfer) came about at the last minute but we spoke on Monday and the deal came about close to midnight. Thankfully it got resolved just in time.

It certainly did help me to make the decision. It is the league all players want to play in. But playing in those games helped me realise it is a league that suits my style and suits me physically. I am a physical player and my style and strength will really fit in with the English game.

I don't know a lot about the team but I am young, I can bring youthful enthusiasm and I am really keen to do well and succeed. I fulfill a defensive midfield role and I can prove a good barrier to protect the defence. I want to help take the team forward as much as I can. Of course I am going to be excited (about the derby) but I will be excited to play in any game for Everton," said Fellaini. "I am coming to help bring results and I am looking forward to any competition. I am here to do a job for the team - whoever we play. When I spoke with the manager, he said he was looking to bring in quality players to improve the side as well as young players, and he said I fit that description. I hope I can take the team forward and help improve the Club." (03/09/08)

Two Year Chase Worthwhile

Moyesy is chuffed he's finally got his man, as Liege didn't want to sell him.